THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, February 21, 2020 Page 5 Kids love Lydia for listening Golden retriever provides comfort zone for young readers at Saugus Public Library By Mark E. Vogler O n a rainy Tuesday in a vacation week, Amy Garang and Lily Murphy are having fun while hanging out with a special friend at the Saugus Public Library. They get to lay on the fl oor in the Craft Room and cuddle with Lydia, the comfort dog, whose primary job is to help them build confi dence in their reading. “She relaxes you and makes you feel happy,” said Amy Garang, 10, a fourth-grader at Oaklandvale Elementary School. “I like how calm she is. She doesn’t growl,” said Lily Murphy, 11, a sixth-grader at Melrose Middle School. “She’s not staring at me, yelling ‘Read! Read! Read!’ You may not want to read. The best part is you get to hang out with this doggie that everyone loves.” Lydia is seven years old and has received special training in Chicago. She interacts with people at churches, schools, nursing homes, hospitals and events and in disaster response situations – like when she was deployed to Parkland, Fla., about two years ago after a gunman killed 17 students and staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. “Lydia’s here to bring comfort,” said Crystal Brown, of Danvers, one of several handlers for Lydia, who works for the Messiah Lutheran Church in Lynnfi eld. “She can reduce stress and anxiety. The kids can come in to read to her and not feel judged. She goes everywhere – from nursing homes to libraries – she’s been to schools, hospitals, the Boston Marathon. We’ve gone every year after the bombing,” Brown said “We have a lot of kids who are afraid of dogs. So, we go to the Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts to teach them how to act around dogs,” she said. “We have a lot of kids who struggle to read or don’t read at all. They just bring their books and tell their stories.” Emerging readers in grades K through 5 who want to improve their reading skills can come to the library the fi rst and third Tuesday of every month at 3:30 p.m. Children can read to Lydia, who will sit on the fl oor in the Craft Room. A caregiver or one of the dog’s handlers will stay in the room to monitor the situation. Lydia’s contact info: northbostoncomfort@gmail.com and http://www.messiahspirit.org/ north-boston-comfort.html. Start Your Weekend at the Marina Dance Party! Saturday, February 22 at 9 PM Dance to the Hits from House to Techno DJ LOGIK Friday, February 21 at 9 PM MONDAY'S SHUCK! $1.00 Oysters CUDDLING WITH CARE: Amy Garang (left), a fourth-grader at Oaklandvale Elementary School, and Lily Murphy, a sixthgrader at Melrose Middle School, hang out with Lydia, the comfort dog, at the Saugus Public Library. (Saugus Advocate photos by Mark E. Vogler) Book your next Function with us! Free Parking • Water Views Call 781-629-3798 SUNDAY BRUNCH BUFFET Only $19.95 / 11am-2pm Featuring Al Whitney Jazz Band BOOK YOUR NEXT FUNCTION WITH US * GIFT CARDS AMPLE FREE www.marinaatthewharf.com 543 North Shore Rd. Revere 781-629-3798 PARKING dine drink gather AMAZING WATER VIEWS Dance to the Huge Hits with.. DJ BIG RICK enjo y Dance the Night Away! Friday, February 21 at 9 PM BRANDY Saturday, February 22 at 9 PM ULTIMATE ALDEAN EXPERIENCE LYDIA AT THE LIBRARY: Crystal Brown, of Danvers, one of several handlers for Lydia, who works for the Messiah Lutheran Church in Lynnfi eld. Friday, February 28 at 9 PM VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE Nation's #1 Jason Aldean Tribute Saturday, February 29 at 9 PM BACK TO THE 80'S with Danny McCarthy Trio Friday, March 6 at 7 PM RUSSO ON THE ROAD Comedy Show/Dinner/Live Band Featuring Dan Crohn Paul D'Angelo * Joe Espi Friday, March 13 at 9 PM Live music featuring TB12 Boston SIERRA READING TO A NEW FRIEND: Amy Garang (left), a fourth-grader at Oaklandvale Elementary School, and Lily Murphy, a sixthgrader at Melrose Middle School, get to read to Lydia, the comfort dog, at the Saugus Public Library. 221 Newbury Street, Danvers For Tickets call (978) 774-7270 or www.breakawaydanvers.com Marathon Fundraiser with Kevin Herchen Leap Year Show! Saturday, March 7 at 9 PM ANNIE BROSBT
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